Bonita

I miss him so much.
My favorite album is New Skin for the Old Ceremony
 
"Is this what you wanted ?
To live in a house that is hauted
By the ghost
Of you and me ?"
 
"And who by fire, who by water
Who in the sunshine, who in the night time
Who by high ordeal, who by common trial
Who in your merry merry month of may
Who by very slow decay
And who shall I say is calling ?"
 
"And clenching your fist for the ones like us
Who are oppressed by the figures of beauty
You fixed yourself, you said, Well, never mind,
We are ugly but we have the music"

love leonard so much he's also responsible for this masterpiece
 
 

Live laugh love Leonard Cohen  He wrote one of my favorite songs of all time - Everybody Knows

love leonard so much he's also responsible for this masterpiece
 
 

Genuinely one of her greatest songs. I know Lana's lyrics are an amazing luxury in her discography, but with songs like Flipside she proves she doesn't need to have intense, intricate lyrics to build a striking and emotional world

love leonard so much he's also responsible for this masterpiece
 
 

Leonard's music is definitely perfect for winter! I might start with Songs of Leonard Cohen (probably the most accessible and famous), then Songs of Love and Hate, then I'm Your Man, but it's so hard to pick. 

fun fact... during the lizzy grant era, somebody (i don't remember if it was somebody reviewing her music/live show, or somebody who knew her) described her as a mix between leonard cohen and marilyn monroe  

I KNOW! I was introduced to Leonard through my parents too. My Mum would tell me that when she was younger, she had a terrible home life and she would spend all her time in the library reading his poetry books. She gifted me a few of his books and then I started listening to his music and immediately fell in love with the absolute beauty of his lyrics!! 

Hallelujah is one of the greatest songs ever written, and for that it will never be forgotten.

definitely songs of leonard cohen <3

You Want It Darker was such a masterpiece. The first album by him i've ever listened to only after his death. 
I wish i knew him sooner, my deadass even thought Chelsea Hotel was Lana's original back then 

definitely planning on discovering his discography one day! one of the many classic, iconic artists i need to get into  

Where to start with his music? Feel like his music is perfect for winter but don't know what to start with

HOWW did this thread not exist already?? a crime is what it is 
 
my dad's been a fan of his for as long as i can remember, but it was Lana's cover of chelsea hotel #2 that really opened my eyes to his music
and now he's one of my all time faves <3

As for Lana referencing Leonard Cohen, here's a few I can think of: 
 
Most recently, in Kintsugi, the beautiful repeated lyric

“That’s how the light shines in
That’s how the light shines in
That’s how the light gets in." 

Is a reference to one of Leonard's most famous songs, Anthem, in which the lyrics go: 

"Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in"

Anthem is a stunning song that I recommend you all check out. It's one of the most beautiful sentiments I've ever heard of in my life and truly comforting. Many people have used the song to help cope with grief, which is what I suspect Lana was doing (as a Leonard fan) around the time the events in Kintsugi took place. Then, in her beautiful mind, she managed to turn the sentiment into her own metaphor and make it her own. 
  In Mariners Apartment complex: 

"You lose your way, just take my hand
You're lost at sea, then I'll command your boat to me again
Don't look too far, right where you are, that's where I am
I'm your man"

Is a reference to Leonard's song "I'm Your Man," which Lana subverts. Here's Leonards; 

"If you want a partner, take my hand, or If you want to strike me down in anger
Here I stand
I'm your man."

It's actually a fairly tragic song about love, telling how he will do anything his lover wants, even becoming a completely different person to suit her needs. Particularly notable of course is the common sentiment of "take my hand" as well as the phrase "I'm your man." Mariners Apartment Complex also reminds me a bit of the Leonard song "Suzanne," I can't quite put my finger on why though. 
  Finally, on "Venice Bitch," Lana makes a subtle reference that I almost missed in the bridge; 

"La-la-la-la-la-la, losers, beautiful losers" 

Which references Leonard's book of the same name. It was his last book he published before he became a singer/songwriter. You can read more about Beautiful Losers here, it's interesting thinking about how it fits into the "feel" of Venice Bitch!  Please let me know if I missed any and please contribute to this thread, Leonard really deserves it. 

I can't believe one of the most eminent poets and lyricists of our age, Leonard Cohen, doesn't have a thread on LanaBoards! 
 

 
Leonard Cohen (1934 - 2016) was a Canadian singer-songwriter, poet, and novelist. Themes commonly explored throughout his work include faith and mortality, isolation and depression, betrayal and redemption, social and political conflict, and sexual and romantic love, desire, regret, and loss.
 
Known as a poet before he was a songwriter, Leonard Cohen touched the hearts of many people with his poetry and songs, including Lana, who wrote on an Instagram caption after his passing, 
“I’d be lying if I said it didn’t kind of break my heart that I never got to tell you how much you changed me,” she wrote underneath. “Not that it would’ve mattered to ya, it’s just that other than Bob and Joan you were the only person I ever really felt spoke my language. I love you as a real fan and I always looked for a little bit of you in all of my future friends. God bless.”
 
She has referenced Leonard Cohen many times throughout her body of work. Also, she has sung a Leonard Cohen cover, "Chelsea Hotel #2," with Leonard's son, Adam Cohen. Iconic! 
 
Please post below about how Leonard Cohen's work has impacted your life, Leonard's inspiration that can be found in Lana's songs, and of course, your favourite songs, albums. etc. 

when i’m down on my knees you’re how i pray

you’re my religion….. you’re how I’m livin…
When I’m down on my knees you’re how I pray
 
HALLLEEEEELLLLLLLUUUUUUUUJAAAAAAAAAH
I NEEEEEEEEEEED
YOUR LOVEEEEEEEE
 

Imagine making a 'Best Songs of 2023' list and not putting A&W. How embarrassing  

I really really hope it ends up being No. 1 in AOTY. She needs to see that if it happens.
 
Not a hater at all, but I agree that The Record didn't bring anything new to the indie-alt scene.

wtf those girls are back to #1. 

idk whether I'm more invested in Ocean Blvd winning or them losing atp

Sweet, I’m assuming. He has a song called “girls of the north country” but it’s kind of a stretch. The other artists mentioned get a direct call out 

This is her best album, so naturally it's right for it to earn Lana her first Grammy.